It would be an understatement to say that Seattle knows coffee. Beth Scribner knows good coffee. She brings eight years of caf/ management experience, a passion for quality coffee, and love of caf/ culture to Aster Coffee Lounge.

Named after the wildflower - from the Latin root astrum, meaning "star" - because it reminded Scribner of gardening, hiking, and the outdoors, she opened her business in March 2008. Aster offers espresso, pastries and desserts, juice, beer, and wine, but my favorite is perhaps the simplest offering: drip coffee.

The Clover machine produces freshly ground, freshly brewed drip coffee in under a minute. "(The machine) showcases the flavors of the coffee, brings out the natural sweetness, and you don't need cream and sugar to hide undesirable attributes," says the Scribner.

Aster's coffee is seasonal and at any given time features four different coffees from different parts of the world, such as Honduras, Ethiopia, Panama, and my favorite from Sumatra.

Seattle has other cafes that make coffee from the Clover machine, but Aster is the first place I've tasted its drip coffee. And let me say it was truly the best cup of coffee I've ever had. It's smooth and full of flavor. I take it black. My olfactory sense is challenged to discern the distinct flavors, the way I feel when I drink wine.

Scribner wanted to build a space where people could go out late at night and get a drink without having to fight through a loud, crowded bar; a peaceful lounge environment where your friend can get a cup of coffee and you can get a glass of wine.

The wine selection is eclectic, and like the coffee has an emphasis on quality. The wines include Washington labels such as Castle Rock and Chelan Estate as well as wines from California, Italy, and Spain. Select bottles of wine are available for purchase. The beer selection includes Unibroue beer from Quebec, my favorite being the Fin du Monde, the Arrogant Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing Co., and two Maritime beers on tap. Aster carries different styles of beer from the same brewery so that people can taste the different flavors.

The owner was exposed to caf/ culture from her time spent living and traveling in Europe. She loves the atmosphere of coffee shops; she loves the craft of making beautiful coffee. She especially loves being a part of the Ballard community.

A Ballard resident for the past eight years, Beth Scribner also loves finding meaning in her work by being environmentally and socially conscious in terms of the products she's selling.

Aster offers direct trade (versus fair trade) coffee. In direct trade, roasters work directly with the growers in active partnership with a commitment to sustainable social and healthy environmental practices. Scribner advocates the hugely educational aspect of coffee and wants to incorporate her International Relations degree into her business. She wants to educate people about coffee and its place in the world as an agricultural product.

As far as life lessons go, a friend once told me that life is too short to drink bad coffee. I try to live by that philosophy. Much of my free time is spent at cafes - the non-mega chain kind - to read, write, hang out, but the most satisfying moment is that first sip of coffee. Such is the feeling one gets at Aster Coffee Lounge - a true star when it comes to Ballard coffee houses.

What:

Aster Coffee Lounge

Where:

5615 24th Ave. N.W.

www.astercoffeelounge.com

784-0615

When:

Hours are Mon-Thu 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri 6 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun 7 a.m.-9 p.m.